As we have learned through our years of paleo lunch packing, there is no such thing as too many paleo to-go recipe options! That is why you will find a number of lunch packing resources on our site (like here, here and here). Oh, and we also wrote an entire e-book on the subject of eating paleo on the go because we have found a gajillion ways to keep eating paleo convenient, which has led to our family’s success in staying committed to this lifestyle no matter what life throws our way.

Packing lunch boxes that are healthy, nutritious and keep you or your little one fueled for the whole day can be a daunting task. We are a family of 6 with 4 kids ranging from 2- 12. The biggest challenge for my children’s lunch boxes is accommodating my son’s AIP needs. We recently discovered (after being Paleo for over a year) that my son who is 9 is intolerant to several food groups. His behaviour had always beenan issue andwe could not figure out why. When we removed all processed food, grains and dairy he was still very emotional, angry and distracted. Finally, discovering that heis intolerant to EGGS (yep EGGS!) the staple ingredient to most Paleo cooking (and also intolerant to gluten, dairy, wheat, spelt, whey, and pinto beans) we decided to adopt an AIP approach. Healing his leaky gut, which was classified as severe, hasbeen my top priority.

Lunch Boxes are my way of being an inner control freak. Providing the family with nourishing food when they are at school is my way of knowing I’m contributing to their day when they are in the care of someone else.

Keeping food simple and colorful is my first step. Don’t feel that pressure to create a different lunch every day – weas parents are under so much pressure already, lets keep it real and keep it simple. Children will let you know if they get bored, and you can switch it up then. I grew up eating the same food everyday and it didn’t make me fussy or picky – ithad the opposite effect because I actually grew to appreciate food and the unique meals when they came along.Weneedto remind ourselves to take things back to basics like meat, veggies, fruit and some nuts or seeds – nothing fancy is needed to keep kids interested in food.

To each lunchbox I trytoadd a meat, fruit and vegetable, and a healthy snack with either coconut oil or avocado dip. I cook all my meat in animal fat for that extra boost in healthy fats. We can’t send nuts to school butwe can eat them at home. We love seeds andadd them to fat balls and tomybanana bread.

The fruit and vegetables I buy are all in season and local, which I like because it reduces the air miles of the food in transit and more importantly it allows me to support the local farmer. I ditch the supermarket as much as possible, opting to support local smaller businesses. Here in Australia we have a local delivery company that delivers fresh local ingredients straight to the door! It’s such a fabulous service, and you get to know your farmer and their framing practices.

Now, for some recipe suggestions!

Pulled Pork Lettuce Cups

Mean Green Lunches! Pulled pork can be a more affordable cut of meat, and can also be cooked overnight in the slow cooker ready to make lunches fresh the next day. I place the pork shoulderin the slow cooker and cover half with water, then add fresh garlic, dried mixed herbs and a little turmericfor antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I cook it over night on low andin the morning I shred with a fork. We then use in lettuce cups and salads, and the meat goes a really long way.

Leftover Chicken Kebabs

Kebab sticks can be a fun way to mix upof leftover and fresh ingredients. These chicken kebabs were pulled together from leftover roasted chicken with diced cucumber. The melon balls are always a favorite inour house and they eliminate the sticky fruit fingers situation.

Sweet Potato Fish Cakes

Simple sweet potato fish cakes can be made in advance, and provide a filling lunch that can be loved by you or the children. Just mix leftover sweet potato with a canoftunaorsalmon, and add any leftover veggies that you have on hand. Or make it a thai inspired fish cake with a squeeze of fresh lime, cilantro, red onion and a fresh chile. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and you have a quick and easy, cost-effective lunch, or even a dinner for the whole family. Home-made coleslaw with my simple homemade mayonnaise is a great Paleo-friendly side dish for fish cakes!

Roast Chicken Pieces

Sending a mini chicken dinner was an idea I had when I was struggling to find ideas for my AIP son’s lunch. I knew I needed to sustain his hunger throughout the day,and sending him with lots of veggies seemed to work for him. The chicken and the vegetables with a slice of glorious star fruit and a fat bomb made with dried dates, fresh blueberries and coconut oil is a filling lunch! Works fabulous for the child that hates avocado, rarely eats sweet potato and refuses to eat cauliflower, zoodles, andis intolerant to egg. The chicken thighs are a very in-expensive meat option and so much more tastier than chicken breast.

Coconut Chicken With Mesto Pesto

This is my favourite AIP compliant lunch. I make a Mesto Pesto that is nut free – so perfect for school lunch boxes and those with allergies. Simply combine fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, olive oil and dried mushrooms, and blend until smooth. This combination makes a wonderful dip for those veggies. The chicken I cook incoconut aminos, and the crunchy and tasty kale chips are seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder, and baked in the oven for 5 minutes.

And finally, my lunchbox packing guidelines:

RULES FOR LUNCH BOXES!

Keep it simple – kids like no fuss.

Add as much color as you can.

Involve the kids with packing and deciding what they want – talk about what they would like. Sometimes we automatically pack items, don’t ask the kids and then get annoyed when they come home not eaten.

Send finger foods – they are easier for the kids to eat, and some children are grazers, picking bits at a time.

Don’t overfill – don’t be worried your child will go hungry. You will soon learn that night if they were hungry or not after that first day, and you can adjust accordingly if necessary.

Use a bento lunchbox if possible – from what teachers are telling me they are loving these new style lunch boxes as they can say to “eat just one more section.”

Prepare as much as you can in advance – bulk cook and chop in advance, and store in air tight containers in the fridge. Andif you’re worried about keeping the food fresh in warmer temperatures, then send food in an insulated cool bag with ice bricks. I also find the stainless steel boxes keep cooler for longer, especially if stored in the fridge overnight.

I hope you are inspired and enjoyed seeing a peak into some of our favorite school lunches!

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://paleoparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/10513438_10204185293254132_702868636773356656_n1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Welcome to my family paleo blog. I’m Victoria the head of the Forry crazy house. We have 4 beautiful children and Live on The Beautiful Sunshine Coast In Queensland Australia . We moved from the UK 3 years ago and have spent time in Perth before settling here for good. I’m lover of all things vintage, obsessed with peacocks and the good old Pyrex dishes I use everyday. I’m passionate about our children eating as clean as possible . We as a family are slowly removing nasty toxins for our everyday lives – starting with plastic and moving onto chemicals around the home and replacing them with essential oils. You can connect with Victoria via Twitter.[/author_info] [/author]

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